Michael Miltenberger

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two things of interest to the Member, of course: the fibre optic line that’s being proposed to go up the valley hooking Inuvik in as a remote sensing site and then coming down the valley, which would allow us to lateral off and hook into all the communities to provide fibre optic services which would include cell phone services. That is a project that is underway.

The other thing of interest in the CRTC ruling is not only that they opened the door to competition but they took NorthwesTel to task for lack of investment in their aging infrastructure, they refused...

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 1, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2012-2013, be read for the third time. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 1, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2012-2013, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Public Accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories Interim Report for the Year Ended March 31, 2011.”

Mr. Speaker, the fact that the officials continue to meet to try to find alternatives, there were arrangements made a year or so ago that were not successful, and we have, over the years, written off sums of money as well as deferred payments, reduced payments, any number of things that we could try to think of to allow both interests to have their needs met in terms of the business and the role and responsibility of government and as the administrators of the public purse. So the commitment is that we’re still looking at trying to find a way to do this. I will commit to the Member that when I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NWT State of the Environment Report Highlights 2011.” Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re willing to look at all opportunities and alternatives as it pertains to dealing with a lot of our issues and our financial situation which, as the Member knows, is somewhat restricted at this point in time. I’d have to hear more in terms of specifics from the Member, but it would be something that I would be more than happy to appear before committee to talk about.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that, on Friday, December 16, 2011, I will move that Bill 1, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2012-2013, be read for the first time. Thank you.

As far as I know, once again, most of the NGOs who are in this business have charitable status and can issue tax receipts for donations that will address some of the issues the Member raises. Once again, if the Member has a number of these alternatives and they may be linked, then I would be making the commitment that I’m more than happy to appear before the committee to talk about those.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.